The persons who prepared fake Haj permits and those who promised to facilitate the entry of pilgrims to the holy sites without permits will be investigated and punished, the Ministry of Interior spokesman told a press conference here, Sunday. In response to a question, Interior Ministry Spokesman Major General Mansour Al-Turki said the people who tried to enter the holy sites without Haj permits were sent back, but those who organized their journey and provided them with forged papers would be subject to investigation and punishment. The Haj, otherwise, is running smoothly according to the spokesman. He lauded the traffic plan, particularly the decision to bar vehicles carrying less than 25 passengers from entering the holy sites and the allocation of separate lanes to vehicles and pedestrians. He said: “The Mashair Railway is transporting large numbers of pilgrims to the fourth story of Jamarat, which made it possible for 90 percent of pilgrims to throw their stones by noon Sunday.” He also denied reports of any extraordinary rush at the Jamarat Bridge Sunday. The Ministry of Health spokesman, Dr. Khalid Mirghalani, meanwhile, said that 305 heart operations have so far been performed, besides 20 open heart surgeries, and 30 gastric operations, adding that 30 pilgrims have received kidney dialysis. He said 98 percent of pilgrims had received proper vaccinations before entering Saudi Arabia. Civil Defense Spokesman Lieutenant Abdullah Al-Harthi, said that 361 pilgrims suffering from heat and exhaustion were given first aid on the spot Sunday. A Saudi Arabia Red Crescent spokesman said that the number of cases requiring the attention of Civil Defense is up compared to last year. However, these cases were being handled by skillful personnel using state-of-the-art equipment, he added. Air Ambulances Six Saudi Air Ambulances have performed 32 sorties in the holy sites since Saturday. The Director of Air Operations at the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Captain Abdulhakim Bin Saadoun Al-Joufi, pointed out Monday that the number of emergency sorties during this year's Haj is down compared with last year due to the increase of health awareness and the further improvement of overall Haj organization.
